Marching Orders are an Aussie-Oi! group, playing out of Melbourne. They've bin turning out great anthemic punk rock for a decade, and show no signs of breaking the cycle. Interview is with the singer, Al.
1. How long have Marching Orders been together, and how did you come about as a band?
Me and Gav(RIP) first formed the band after a drunken night out.We wrote the song ‘spirit of the anzac’ that night, which later appeared on the ‘Dead end street’ EP. There were no Oi! Bands in Melbourne at that time so we thought it was a good idea to start one!
We have been together for 10 years now, the first line up recorded a 3 track demo and then broke up leaving just a vocalist!! (me), shortly after that I put an all new line up together and despite one or two changes since then we have stayed pretty solid.
2. Your song's range from street punk to oi! to melodic punk rock. Are there particular member's that bring these different influences to the group?
What groups would you say influence you the most?
Between us we have played in quite a few other bands ranging from Hardcore to Psychobilly to Punk. So I guess a background like that will produce a few different sounds! Also there are 3 song writers in the band and we listen to lots of different music, so on each release you’ll find a real variety.
We are influenced by US and UK oi bands like the Cockney Rejects, Anti Heroes, Blitz and The Business. Also earlier UK punk groups like Menace and The Professionals, I guess that’s where the melodic punk sound comes from.
We are also influenced by Australian Pub Rock bands like AC/DC(early) and Rose Tattoo(early).You won’t hear that sound in every track but check out songs like ‘Australian Made’ and ‘No escape’ and you’ll see what I mean.
3. What topics do you touch on with your lyrics, is there an overall theme at all?
There isn’t really a theme, we sing about a variety of things from stories of struggle and hardship to nights down the pub and occasionally social issues like in Nation Of Ghosts which was a song about the death of manufacturing in Australia.
4. How is music scene in Melbourne, and Australia as a whole? What types of gigs go on? Also if bands do play abroad, where do they tend to go?
The scene in Melbourne is pretty small right now compared to the scene in Europe but there are a few new bands coming through that will liven things up a bit. In the 90’s and early 2000’s punk shows were quite big but then emo and metalcore came along and ruined that!!... thankfully most of that crap has disappeared now and numbers at punk and oi! shows are on the increase again!
A lot of Aussie bands play Rebellion Festival in the UK and do short European tours also. We played Europe in 2011 and USA in 2008 and hope to tour again one day.
5. Where have you played so far outside of Australia? Is there a different feel to the crowd's? Where have you had your funnest gigs to date?
We’ve played the USA and Europe and had a great time in both places. When we played Oi! Fest in America I guess it was different to Europe because there was a massive fight involving a few hundred people and the riot police got called and then the gig got closed down! Luckily we had already played. Was great weekend in the end though. Otherwise I don’t think there is much difference. We always like a lively crowd that really gets into it, you can get that in most citys around the world once people get to know your songs! Best gigs we’ve played would be Berlin in 2011 and Endless Summer Festival Germany 2011. And our last show at The Arthouse in Melbourne before it closed for good.
6. Do any of you play in different bands aswell? If so, do they take more or less priority with Marching Orders?
We play in a few other bands but Marching Orders is number one priority always. Ben and Brod play in Stranglehold and Phil plays in The Hard Targets. I have played in a few other bands in the past but I’m just in Marching Orders right now.
7. Are there any other Australian bands you'd reccomend checking out?
For sure there are quite a few. Check out new oi! band Razorcut (7inch out in June 2012), Stranglehold(new release ‘never hold me back’ out soon) The Hard Targets(Find them on Facebook, no releases yet),Murder Rats(punk/psychobilly),The Shades(60’s inspired rock/pop), Plan of Attack(Brisbane Oi!, album coming soon,EP available on Randale records),Bloody Hammer(Melbourne Streetpunk-album coming soon), Rust, The Worst and Last Call.
8. Any final comments?
Our new single/7 inch ‘Songs of yesterday’ is out now on Longshot/Contra records and our new full length album will be ready later in 2012.
Thanks for the interview.
All the best
AL, Marching Orders
Conact Marching Orders at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marching-Orders/274668061882
"Nation of Ghosts": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXMXJXbM_FU
